Newark Schools Has Been Facing High Levels of Lead in Water in the Last 6 Years

Lead is known to be particularly hazardous to the health, and Newark Public Schools have been known to have high levels of exposure for at least six years. This is especially alarming, considering that exposure to high levels of lead is known to be linked to developmental problems in children.

According to The New York Times, drinking water in these schools were found to have high levels of lead for at least as long as six years back, but the data have only recently released.

It was said that about one in eight water samples taken from these public schools during the academic years 2010 to 2011 and 2011 to 2012 containted above 15 parts per billion of lead. Still, it was only a month ago that the Newark School Officials drew attention to the problem, when lead levels in the water were found to be elevated in about half of the schools in the city.

In March, over 300 samples were taken in Newark and were then tested by four state-approved labs. Of those 300, NJ.com noted that 76 of them were above the required action level, and district superintendent Christopher Cerf ordered water fountains to be turned off in the schools with high lead levels, distributing bottled water for the children instead.

The likely origin of such high levels of lead may come from old plumbing, but at this point, it is not clear where the state could obtain money for replacement. Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey said that at the moment, there is not immediate danger, but other lawmakers have already called on more public money to be spent on fixing the problem.

Representative Donald M. Payne Jr, meanwhile, is already in talks about holding a news conference along with the city's mayor Ras Baraka and State Senator Ronald L. Rice, as they plan to call on Congress to pass a bill that would require states to receive federal funding for programs that could help schools test water for lead.

High lead levels are as much a problem for homeowners in other states as well. Despite the alarming levels seen in Newark schools, Time reported that a home in Flint, Michigan, tested with over 13,200 parts per billion.